Page 5 of One Night in Glasgow (The Scottish Billionaires #15)

CHAPTER THREE

BETH

The elevator doors slid shut with a soft ding, and the sudden, deafening silence was a shock after the roar of the pub.

All the easy banter and witty deflections vanished, leaving only the low hum of the elevator and the sound of our breathing.

I snuck a glance at Sean, admiring the way his shirt stretched across his broad shoulders.

Christ, what was I doing? This wasn’t me anymore.

Or at least, it wasn’t supposed to be. Just yesterday, I’d promised Mum I’d be more responsible.

“So,” Sean’s voice cut through my internal debate, “have you forgiven that fool for standing you up yet? Or should I be sending him a thank-you note for giving me this opportunity?”

I let a slow smile spread across my face, turning the full force of my attention back on him.

“A thank-you note?” I purred, leaning in a little closer.

“I think you should be building the man a statue.

If he hadn't bailed, I wouldn't have discovered that I have a thing for rugged Americans with terrible motivational speeches.”

His laugh rumbled through the elevator, making my skin tingle. “Careful now. I might start to think you actually like me.” Fuck, I was in trouble.

“We can’t have that, can we?” I said, stepping closer.

The doors opened with another ding, and Sean gestured for me to exit first. Ever the gentleman.

Sean fumbled with the key card, and I bit back a laugh. It was oddly endearing to see the smooth-talking American flustered. When the door finally swung open, I let out a low whistle.

“Damn,” I murmured, taking in the sprawling suite. “You weren’t exaggerating about the view.”

Sean grinned, looking pleased with himself. “I never exaggerate about views. Or anything else, for that matter.”

I quirked a brow, a challenge in my voice. “Is that so? Care to prove it?”

The playful energy between us didn’t just shift; it snapped.

The easy green in Sean’s eyes bled away, replaced by a mossy, predatory darkness that sent a shiver straight down my spine.

The air grew thick, the entire hotel suite shrinking until he was the only thing in it.

He didn’t just walk toward me; he stalked, closing the distance in two long, deliberate strides that felt more like a claim than an approach.

His hand came up, his palm warm against my jaw, his thumb a searing brand against the curve of my lower lip.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, his voice a low, husky growl that vibrated through my bones.

Was I sure? No. I was a fucking mess on a collision course with a man who was probably far too good for me.

But in that moment, rational thought fled.

In response, I fisted my hand in the front of his shirt, yanking him down to me.

There was no gentle meeting of lips. It was a crash.

A desperate, hungry claiming that was all teeth and tongue and the unspoken acknowledgment that we were both past the point of no return.

His hands weren’t just roaming; they were mapping my body, learning the territory, staking a claim on every curve and dip.

My fingers, suddenly clumsy and urgent, fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, a frantic need to feel his skin against mine overriding everything else.

We didn’t walk to the bedroom; we stumbled, a chaotic tangle of limbs shedding clothes like we were on fire.

My dress hit the floor, followed by his shirt.

When the backs of my knees hit the edge of the bed, I fell backward, dragging him down with me.

He braced his weight above me, his gaze sweeping over my body with an appreciative hunger that made my skin prickle.

“You’re fucking gorgeous,” he murmured, the words a rough prayer against my mouth before he captured my lips in another searing kiss.

His mouth left mine to wage a delicious war on my neck, the scrape of his stubble a perfect, abrasive friction against my sensitive skin.

I arched into him, my fingers tangling in the thick hair at his nape, pulling him closer as his lips and teeth worried the frantic pulse point there.

A raw sound, half-gasp, half-curse, tore from my throat.

“Fuck,” I gasped.

His large hands cupped my breasts, thumbs brushing over my hardened nipples.

I moaned. Sean’s mouth followed the path of his hands, leaving wet kisses down my sternum before capturing a nipple between his lips.

His tongue swirled around the sensitive bud, sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core.

“Christ,” I panted, grinding my hips against his. His rock-hard cock strained against his boxer briefs, the impressive length pressing insistently against my thigh. My hand snaked between us, palming him through the thin fabric. Sean groaned, the vibration against my breast making me shiver.

“Patience, princess,” he growled, his voice dripping with lust. He kissed his way down my stomach, pausing to dip his tongue into my navel. My hips bucked involuntarily, seeking more friction.

Sean’s fingers hooked into the waistband of my lace panties, slowly dragging them down my legs. The cool air hit my dripping pussy, making me gasp. He spread my thighs, his hot breath fanning over my most intimate area. “Fuck, you’re soaked,” he murmured appreciatively.

Without warning, he dove in, his tongue parting my slick folds. I cried out, my back arching as he lapped at my clit with broad, firm strokes. “Oh god, Sean!” I moaned, my fingers tightening in his hair.

He slid two thick fingers inside me, hitting that spot that made me see stars. His tongue never stopped its relentless assault on my clit, alternating between quick flicks and slow, circular motions. The dual stimulation had me careening towards the edge embarrassingly fast.

“That’s it, sweetheart,” Sean encouraged, his voice muffled against my pussy. “Come for me. Let me hear those pretty Scottish moans.”

As Sean’s tongue continued to work its magic, my body arched off the bed, my hands gripping the sheets so tightly I damn near tore them apart. His fingers were doing things inside me that I didn’t know were possible, and his lips... oh, his wicked, talented lips.

“Sean,” I moaned, “I can’t... I’m...”

He only responded by sucking harder on my swollen clit, sending me over the edge into oblivion. My thighs clamped around his head as pleasure washed over me. It seemed like hours before the world stopped spinning, and I could breathe again.

Sean crawled up my trembling body, kissing a trail of wet kisses up my stomach and between my breasts until he reached my lips. His eyes were dark with desire. “Round two?” he asked with a cocky grin, his erection pressing against my still-sensitive core.

I grinned back at him, boldly. “Oh yes,” I said, flipping us over so that I straddled him instead. “I do think so.” Leaning down, I whisper-kissed along his jawline before nipping at his earlobe. “Let’s find out if you Yanks can handle a real Scottish lassie.”

I eased back, my eyes never leaving his, and reached into my purse. Sean’s eyes widened as I extracted a condom, holding it up. “Always prepared, darlin’. Hope that doesn’t disappoint.”

A slow, sexy grin spread across his face. “You disappoint? Sweetheart, never.”

I went to the edge of the bed, positioning myself between his legs. Lowering myself to my knees, Sean’s breath hitched as I leaned in, my hot breath fanning over the head of his cock.

I kissed the tip gently, my eyes never leaving his, before taking him into my mouth. I swirled my tongue around the sensitive ridge as he twitched and pulsed against my lips. I hummed in appreciation; the vibration making him groan and buck his hips.

“Fuck, Beth,” he gasped, his hands tangling in my hair. “You’ve got to stop or I won’t last.”

I pulled off with a pop, giving him a mischievous smile. “Where’s your famous self-control, Mr. Motivational Speaker? ”

“All gone, right out the fucking window.”

I laughed, teasing as I slid the rubber over his dick, admiring the gorgeous view.

“Can’t wait to ride this bad boy,” I said, mounting him and easing him inside. We both groaned as he filled me up, hitting all the right spots. I started moving, loving how his thick cock slid in and out, stretching me in a slightly painful, yet completely delicious way.

Fuck. It’d been forever since I’d clicked with someone like this. It kinda freaked me out how much I wanted him.

Sean grabbed my hips, staring into my eyes while I bounced on his cock. “Goddamn,” he grunted, voice husky with lust. “Use me how you want, Beth. I’m all yours.”

His words sent a thrill through me, and I leaned forward, bracing my hands on his chest as I picked up the pace.

The headboard thumped against the wall in time with our frantic rhythm; the sound spurring us on.

Sean’s hips rose to meet mine, his fingers digging into my flesh as we moved in perfect synchronicity.

“Oh, fuck, Sean!” My head fell back, letting my hair ripple down my back as a guttural moan burst from my lips. “I’m so damn close. Right there...” I hissed, my body coiling tighter with need.

But just as I was teetering on the brink, Sean’s hands slid down my back to grip my ass. He lifted me off him, earning a protest. “Sean, what?—”

He cut me off with a searing kiss, standing from the bed with me still wrapped around him. In one swift motion, he pressed me against the wall, his cock driving deep inside me.

“Oh, my God!” I cried out, my nails digging into his shoulders as he began to move. The new position allowed him to thrust even deeper, stimulating every inch of me .

“You fucking like that, don’t you, Beth?” he growled, his breath hot against my ear.

“Yes!” I moaned, my head falling back as he pounded into me. “Yes, right there?—”

“Goddamn, you’re so tight,” Sean grunted, his hips slamming against mine. “Take it all, baby.”

I whimpered, overwhelmed by the intense sensations. “Fuck, Sean... I can’t... It’s too much...”

He chuckled darkly, nipping at my neck. “Oh, you can take it. And you will.”

His fingers dug into my thighs, surely leaving bruises as he held me up. The rough texture of the wall scraped against my back with each powerful thrust, a delicious counterpoint to the pleasure coursing through me.

“That’s it,” he growled. “Scream for me, Beth. Let everyone hear how much you love my cock.”

His words got me over the edge. I dug my nails into his shoulders, my back arching away from the wall as waves of pleasure crashed through me.

“Sean! Oh my God, Sean!” I screamed, not caring who might hear.

My entire body shuddered, clenching around him as the orgasm ripped through me like a hurricane.

“Fuck, Beth—” Sean’s rhythm faltered as I pulsed around him. His fingers dug deeper into my thighs, his face buried in my neck as he thrust once, twice more before groaning deeply. He throbbed inside me as he came, his powerful body trembling against mine.

For a long moment, we stayed there, pinned against the wall, our ragged breathing the only sound in the room. My legs were like jelly, and I wasn’t sure I could stand if he let me go.

“Jesus Christ,” Sean muttered against my skin, his voice rough.

With surprising tenderness, he carried me to the bed, still joined, before gently laying me on the sheets.

He collapsed beside me, tugging me against his chest with a possessive gentleness that made my heart skip.

My body melted into his warmth, our skin still slick with sweat.

I smiled, savoring the afterglow. As I lay there in Sean’s arms, listening to the steady, reassuring rhythm of his heart against my ear, I felt a peace that was utterly foreign.

As if sensing my contentment, he tightened his embrace, his lips brushing my hair. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah,” I murmured, meaning it more than I’d meant anything in a long time. “I’m great.”

I stayed perfectly still, tracing the lines of the tattoo on his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin. I listened as the strong, steady beat of his heart slowed, his breathing deepening until it evened out into the quiet rhythm of sleep. For a few precious moments, everything was perfect.

And then, in the silence of the hotel room, the quiet was shattered by the screaming of my own thoughts.

What the fuck are you doing?

My heart, unlike his, was now hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird.

This hadn’t felt like just a shag. Not even close.

There had been an intensity, a raw connection that scared the living daylights out of me.

He’d looked at me, really looked at me, in a way that stripped away all my usual defenses.

Sean was handsome, funny, and seemed genuinely, devastatingly kind.

The kind of man who deserved someone… simpler.

Someone not trailing a comet’s tail of scandal.

Someone not me. The thought of pulling him into my chaotic orbit, of watching his brightness inevitably get dimmed by my darkness, felt like a punch to the gut.

This felt too good, too pr ecious, and I had a spectacular talent for destroying precious things.

In another life, maybe. A life where I wasn’t Elisabeth Fiona MacLeod, the MacLeod Menace.

With a sigh that felt like it was ripped from my soul, I carefully extricated myself from his embrace. The cool air of the room felt hostile on my bare skin. I padded quietly, gathering my scattered clothes, the familiar, shameful routine of the “walk of shame” washing over me.

I paused at the desk, grabbing a piece of hotel stationery. What do you even say? ‘Thanks for the mind-blowing shag, but I’m too much of a fuck-up for you’ ? In the end, I just scribbled a few cowardly words:

Sean,

Thanks for a great night. Wish things could be different.

B

I left the note on the pillow next to him, allowing myself one last, lingering glance at his handsome, sleeping face. Then, turning my back on the warmth and the quiet breathing, I slipped out of the room.

The pre-dawn quiet of Glasgow felt accusatory as I stumbled out of the hotel and into the first taxi I could find. My reflection in the window was a ghost. Smudged makeup, wild hair, haunted eyes. The woman I was no longer allowed to be.

Back in my cold, empty flat, I kicked off my heels and peeled off my dress. I was a mess. Tomorrow—no, today —I had to face the charity, face my parents’ ultimatum, face myself. Am I the party girl who bolts before sunrise, or the responsible adult I can sometimes pretend to be?

I stepped into the shower, the cold water a brutal shock. Time to find out.